Coffee

Brands

Recent Coffee Reviews

Trader Joe's Pour-Over Coffee Brewer

I've tried it and even added two to my bug out bag. I did not find the taste to be artificial, actually tasted like honest brewed coffee, I was surprised. A good back up for ski houses, etc. I was pretty impressed. as far as quick on the fly coffee brewing is concerned, I liked it. The coffee tasted pretty good. You have to remove the plastic cap on the plastic pouring spout when you add the hot water. Be careful, resealing the pouch after the hot water is added can be dodgy. Full review

Trader Joe's Pour-Over Coffee Brewer

I have used this twice on camping/backpacking trips. Blah. And blah again below average coffee and lots of waste to carry out. Then there is the little plastic cap that is easy to lose and bad for the environment once you do. Starbucks or any other powdered coffee is better than this. I have used this twice on camping/backpacking trips. Blah. And blah again below average coffee and lots of waste to carry out. Then there is the little plastic cap that is easy to lose and bad for the environment once… Full review

Trader Joe's Pour-Over Coffee Brewer

Ultra lightweight coffee in the backcountry that tastes better than Starbucks. Buy at any local Trader Joe's. Pack in as many as you think you'd drink. They're ultralight. Boil two cups of water your favorite way. The waterproof packets are filled with ground coffee. The container has a built-in filtration system. Open the "ziplock" style top. Slowly add water. The side tells you how much to add—Mild to Strong. Let sit and cool down. If I'm near water I set mine in a stream for a minute. Break… Full review

Alpine Start Original Blend Instant Coffee

If you’re looking for instant coffee you’ll do well finding Alpine Start. Upmarket of center, Alpine Start offers a boldness, a complexity of flavor not often found outside of the fresh-ground-and-lovingly-brewed set. For those not married to the traditional method of coffee brewing, Alpine Start also allows a greatly reduced base weight and packed size in comparison. Best For: Well, you know—alpinists, apparently. Fast-packers, thru-hikers, college students, and commuters, also. All those… Full review

Mount Hagen Organic Fairtrade Instant Coffee

Excellent taste and portability; the BEST tasting Instant Coffee! Mount Hagen Organic Instant freeze dried coffee is a wonderful backpacking answer to having our java in the morning... or anytime! I've been using it for about three years and believe it's the best tasting organic instant. You could pack the whole container at 11 oz; but reserve that for car camping. It comes in a glass resealable container, but I split my designated morning brew into each morning's breakfast in a plastic sandwich… Full review

Cafe Bustelo Espresso Instant Coffee

Great tasting, single-serve coffee packets. Cafe Bustelo Espresso Instant Coffee is the closest thing to brewed coffee I've had on the trail. I've tried a variety of the instant, single-serve powdered packets and liquid single serve concentrates, and by far prefer this brand. By following the directions you'll get a brew that tastes like the coffee served in Central and South America, which is typically strong and flavorful. It's the only instant that I don't mind drinking black. I tried it out… Full review

Trader Joe's Pour-Over Coffee Brewer

Hard to imagine a use for this one. It's expensive, makes weak "coffee" that tastes like plastic and then there's the disposal problem. I'd tried one of these brew-in-bag systems once before (from a different source) and it too was terrible. So now, a couple of years later, I thought I'd try it again. Retrospectively, I can't think of why I thought this was a good idea. You pour hot water into the bag and you can make it weak or strong. I chose strong. I waited the recommended time plus a minute… Full review

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew

Next best thing to a coffee press. I love my Jetboil Coffee Press, but I'm not always on trips where I have enough water to wash it out after brewing.
I've used Folgers coffee bags for 20 years and tried the cheaper instant coffees, but Starbucks kills it with this stuff. It's just great—quicker and neater than fresh ground.
Packs small and light and very little trash. Full review

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew

I'm a coffee snob that normally only drinks "Charbucks" swill when I'm desperate and there are no quality options available. That said, VIA is my go-to source for an enjoyable cup of coffee when backpacking. As I said, I'm a total coffee snob. When at home or car camping, I make my coffee in a French press. But when backpacking, I love VIA. It weighs almost nothing. It takes up almost no space in my pack (generally it simply fills space that would otherwise be voids in my pack). And there is no… Full review